Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster car check
Is the Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster reliable? We analysed 3,990 real MOT tests across 354 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height, registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 693 | 90.6% | 5,645 | 11,201 | 17,438 |
| 2008 | 796 | 89.3% | 5,610 | 9,191 | 17,197 |
| 2007 | 1,133 | 91.4% | 4,905 | 8,749 | 15,387 |
| 2006 | 1,311 | 92.4% | 4,886 | 8,959 | 14,793 |
How Long Does a Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Last?
Based on 354 Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster vehicles on UK roads.
Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.4% MOT pass rate from 1,311 tests
89.3% MOT pass rate from 796 tests
The best year to buy a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.4% across 1,311 tests. The 2008 model year has the lowest pass rate at 89.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster THIS CAR | 91.2% | 3,990 | 9,328 mi | 20 yrs |
| Harley-davidson Xlh 883 | 88.8% | 47,203 | 10,536 mi | 38 yrs |
| Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport | 89.4% | 16,429 | 10,286 mi | 29 yrs |
| Harley-davidson XL53 C | 88.6% | 15,043 | 11,058 mi | 28 yrs |
| BMW X1 XDRIVE25E Xline Auto | 90.7% | 2,760 | 34,354 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Harley-davidson Xlh 883 (88.8% pass rate) and the Harley-davidson XL 1200 C Custom Sport (89.4% pass rate), the Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster outperforms both on MOT reliability.
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Check a specific Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low SportsterShould you buy a used Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster?
The Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster has an overall MOT pass rate of 91.2% across 3,990 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster are registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct height (14 recorded failures), registration plate with character(s) which are not the correct width (12), and tyre tread depth is below minimum requirements of 1.0mm (10). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is brake pad(s) less than 1.0 mm thick. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster owner drives around 515 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Harley-davidson XL 1200 Low Sportster models stay on UK roads for around 20 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.